PIzza Hut to close 500 dine-in restaurants nationwide, no word on Joplin area locations

The parent company of Pizza Hut has announced it will close 500 underperforming dine-in restaurants over the next two years and replace them with express stores that handle only carry-out and delivery.

Pizza Hut's parent company,  Yum! has not announced which stores will be closed. The company has 6,100 dine-in restaurants and 7,450 stores.

Pizza Hut currently has dine-in restaurants in several area communities, including Joplin, Webb City, Carthage, Neosho and Lamar.